Eye TV

aka Nixons


Eye TV began as The Nixons in 1990 and led the local field in heavy alternative rock. But there was already a band called The Nixons in the USA, so they took the name of their first album and subsequently eased up on the distortion pedals.

They signed deals with labels in the States and Australia, and then set off on two extensive USA tours. But their final breakthrough was in New Zealand, where they had hits with ‘Just the Way It Is’ and ‘One Day Ahead’. Their third album, Fire Down Below (2000) hit the Top 10, completing their transition to pop music. This final success wasn’t enough to keep the band going, but it was a fitting last statement of the band’s talent, as well their unpredictability.

Mike Scott
The Nixons - Basement Static
The Malchicks and The Nixons, September 1992
Photo credit: Jason Ennor collection
Eye TV - Dynamite
Eye TV
Eye TV - Luke Casey, Sean Sturm, Mike Scott
The Nixons - Sean Sturm, Mike Scott, Mark Pollard
Luke Casey
The Nixons, L to R: Michael Scott, Sean Sturm, Mark Pollard
Photo credit: Photo by Ian McCray
The 1995 EP, Special Downtime.
Eye TV - Wish It All Away
1993 gig poster for Hamilton's Ward Lane
The Nixons - Down with a D
Eye TV - Luke Casey, Mike Scott, Sean Sturm.
Interview with Sean Sturm and Michael Scott of the Nixons, 12 August 1994. Directed by Ross Cunningham.
The picture used on the cover of the 1997 album Birdy-O of the top of Symonds St - Kurtz Lounge on the right-hand side before it was demolished to widen the street.
Photo credit: Ian McRae
The Nixons - Laughing
The Nixon's Saturnalia tour, 1994
Eye TV - FFF
Sean Sturm
Eye TV - One Day Ahead
The Nixons - Eye TV
Mike Scott, Sean Sturm, Mark Pollard
The Nixons - Mike Scott, Sean Sturm and Mark Pollard
Eye TV
Eye TV - Just the Way It Is
Eye TV
The Nixons' Malcolm Welsford-produced 1993 album Eye TV, which would provide the band's new name
The Nixons - Mark Pollard, Sean Sturm, Mike Scott
The Nixons - Tick Tock
The Nixons - Mark Pollard, Sean Sturm, Mike Scott
The Nixons in 1995
Labels:

Pagan


Antenna Recordings


Incandescent


Silent Echo

Trivia:

Mark Pollard also filled in on drums for Auckland group The Malchicks, who shared their practice space. After leaving the Nixons, he played in The Pet Rocks and Delta.

Luke Casey’s uncle (Andy Parker) was the drummer for UK heavy rockers UFO and Luke’s early forays into music were also noisy. He started out in an early incarnation of Flying Nun noise rock act SPUD (who were then called “Albino Slug”), before moving on to join hardcore act Bygone Era and metal band Seven Dials.

Members:

Sean Sturm - vocals, guitar, keyboards

Michael Scott - bass

Mark Pollard - drums

Luke Casey - drums

Grant Winterburn - keyboards

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